The Canadiens (40-21-10) will turn to Jacob Fowler in nets when they take on the Nashville Predators (34-29-9) on Saturday night at the Bell Centre.
Puck drop at 7 p.m. (Sportsnet, CityTV, TVA Sports, TSN Radio 690, 98.5 FM).
Here’s what you need to know:
- Jakub Dobes will back up Fowler after he started the last two games for the Habs, both wins.
- Otherwise, same lineup from Thursday: no Alexandre Texier.
- The Canadiens have drawn attention for limiting Dobes’ media availabilities, and coach Martin St. Louis has also taken heat for a recent interaction with the media.
- Forward Zachary Bolduc broke a 31-game goalless drought on Thursday, while Jayden Struble ended a season-long scoring slump.
- The Canadiens have hit the 90-point, 40-win plateau on the season.
- The Predators were staring down a rebuild after general manager Barry Trotz announced he would be stepping down, but they’ve gone 6-3-1 in their last 10 to vault back into the playoff picture.
- How and where to watch the Canadiens on TV for the 2025-26 season.
- Blacked out on TSN2 or RDS? Here’s how to watch Canadiens games from Ontario and Western Canada.
Stay tuned to this page for updates and game highlights throughout the evening. You can also keep the conversation going over on our livestream on the Hockey Inside Out YouTube channel.
First Period: Habs outshoot Preds 9-2
Ivan Demidov opened scoring at 11:34 of the first period with a snipe that went post and in. He joined Bennett Sennecke of the Ducks atop the list of best rookie scorers. Nick Suzuki got his 300th career assist on the goal. 1-0 Canadiens
The period ended with Luke Evangelista running right into Fowler and causing a skirmish in the corner.
Second Period: Habs score three times
Another freshman gave the Habs a 2-0 lead. Oliver Kapanen banged home the loose puck after Juuse Saros misplayed it with his glove. With an assist Lane Hutson is the first defenceman in team history to record consecutive 60-assist seasons. 2-0 Canadiens
Josh Anderson left for the dressing room in the second period. At the start of the third, the team announced Anderson has an illness and his night is over.
Cole Caufield continues to push for 50 goals. He scored his 45th, and 20th Saturday night goal in 21 Saturday games this season. Suzuki got his second assist of the night. 3-0 Canadiens
Less than two minutes later, Alex Newhook buried a one-timer to give Montreal a commanding four-goal lead. Demidov and Kapanen picked up assists. 4-0 Canadiens
Third Period: Fowler shutout bid ends on fluke goal
In the third period, Zachary L’Heureux took advantage of a lucky bounce off the dump in. A power play goal. 4-1 Canadiens
The post Liveblog replay: Cole Caufield scores 45th, Canadiens beat Predators 4-1 appeared first on Montreal Gazette.
